15 dead in Cameroon after militant attack

At least 15 people were killed in a pre-dawn attack on a village in northern Cameroon on Thursday, local sources reported. Suspected militants stormed the village of Madegoua, near Makary, around 2 am (0100 GMT) and executed men before fleeing the scene. A local vigilante member, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, claimed the initial death toll was 13, with two more victims succumbing to injuries at a hospital in Makary.

The burial of the confirmed victims took place on Thursday, according to a video obtained by Reuters, though independent verification has not yet been possible. The identity of the attackers has not been confirmed, but a security analyst suggested the attack may have been orchestrated by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants, who are known to be active in the region.

Some villagers suspect the assault may have been an enforcement action by militants, who reportedly ordered residents to vacate the area, which lies on a strategic route towards Makary. The Far North region of Cameroon, bordering Nigeria and Chad, has experienced years of violence due to the activities of militant groups such as Boko Haram operating in the Lake Chad basin.

Cameroon is currently part of a regional multinational military force combating militants in the Lake Chad area.